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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1939-05-15 301 SELECTMEN'S MEETING MAY 15, 1939. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, at 7;30 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Locke and Sarano were present . The Clerk was also present . The Chairman stated that the Board had been requested to issue a Proclamation for Flag week. Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Sarano, the following Proclamation was adopted; PROCLAMATION To the Citizens of Lexington, Greetings : WHEREAS, in these days of world-wide turmoil, with subversive forces and influences striving to discredit and destroy the ideals and institutions symbolized by our Country's Flag, all loyal Americans should answer this challenge by displaying and paying tribute to that Flag as the emblem of our rights and liberties; and, WHEREAS, with this end in view, the period June 8th to 14th has been designated as Flag Week by The United States Flag Association, headed by the President of the United States as Honorary President General, during which time Flag Week patriotic exercises and other appropriate functions are to Proclama- be held in towns and cities throughout all the Land, tion. NO'dd THEREFORE as Selectmen of Lexington, we do NOW, s g s proclaim June 8th to 14th as FLAG WEEK and direct that during this period the Flag of the United States be displayed on all municipal buildings and vehicles. Furthermore, we do invite the people of Lexington to display the Stars and Stripes at their homes, pla es of business and other suitable locations as well as on their cars, and to hold patriotic exercises, plan Flag parades and do other suitable things as a public expression of our love of our Country, our allegiance to its Glorious Banner and our belief in the institutions of American Democracy. IN WITNESS WHEREOF we have hereunto set nur hands and caused the seal of the Town of Lexington to be affixed this 15th day of May, 1939. BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF LEXINGTON, MASS. By - Archibald R. Giroux Chairman. Letter was received fromAnderson Florence M. A son Bruce Vine advising that she would accept the award of $130. for re- Brook imbursement for damages suffered because of the construction of Vine Brook. 302 Pawl tO ct Borrowing Letter was received from the Town Treasurer advising capacity. that the statutory authority for borrowing in anticipation of revenue for the year 1939 was 6819,777.26. Letter was received from the Mass. Dept. of Agricul- ture requesting that the Selectmen see that the Dog Laws were Dog Laws. strictly enforced. Mr. Locke moved that the department be advised that the Board would be pleased to cooperate with it in this matter. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from Louise G. Campbell, Agent Homemakers ' for the Middlesex County Extension Service, requesting that Day. a member of the Board greet the members on June 6th, Home- makers ' Day, being held at Cary Memorial Hall. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. George W. Sarano grey the Homemakers on that day. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Constable' s Bond on behalf of John C. Russell as Constable in the bond. amount of 61,000. was received. Mr. Potter moved that the bond be approved. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Street Letter was received from Rev. Paul H. Chapman, carnival Unitarian minister, requesting that the First Parish Church permit . be allowed to have a carnival on Harrington Road between the hours of 11:00 A.M. and 6 :00 P.M. on June 3rd. Mr. Potter moved that the permit be granted. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Locke , it was voted to grant the following licenses : Licenses. Jane Foley, 414 Marrett Rd. , - Com:ron Victualler' s Clarence E. MacPhee, 14 Baker Ave. - Sunday Sales Ryder' s Stork Farm, Maple St. - Keeping of Swine . The Chairman informed the Board that there would be Meeting a meeting on Monday evening, May 22nd, in Cary Hall for the purpose of organizing a Chamber of Commerce. He said that the Selectmen had been requested to attend and suggested that the Selectmen's Meeting be held in the afternoon rather than in the evening. It was decided tomeet at 4:00 P.M. on the 22nd of May and that as many members as possible return at 7 :30 in order to hold the Hatch Board of Survey hearing. Letter was received from Mr. Harold A. Conant of 47 Lihcoln Street stating that his water bill received . Conant May 1st amounted to $15. and that the usual bill was $3.75. water bill. Mr. Conant said that the water had not been used by his family and that there were no leaks. He said, however, that the Welfare men came daily to fill their jugs with water and they had never refused them this privilege. The Supt. 303 of the Water Dept. reported that they had found no leaks in the plumbing and that the water meter had registered accurately. The Department found that there was a split in the pipe leading to the sill cock and it was Mr. Ross ' s opinion that the water was wasted through this defective pipe. He said that he did not believe that the water used by the Welfare employees for drinking purposes would amount to more than fifteen or twenty cents . Mr. Potter moved that no action be taken in view of the fact that the Board could see no reason for granting an abatement. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Town Counsel appeared before the Board to discuss the default of the Lee Construction Co. on Contract B, Vine Brook Drainage. After considerable discussion on the matter Lee of the bid bond of the Lee Construction Co. , Mr. Potter Contract moved that Mr. Wrightington be instructed to take such steps as are necessary to collect the bid bond of the Lee Construction Co. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was unanimously voted. The Chairman said that Charles Linehan of Cambridge Came in this afternoon relative to the agreement on the land which is being taken for the reconstruction of Westview Street. The settlement had been agreed on, but Mr. Linehan Westview refuses to sign the agreement because the water company wants Street. II to transfer the property to the New England Water Supply Co. and Linehan wants it transferred to the Town of Lexingtoh. The Town Counsel said he would see what he could do to straighten out the matter. Letter was received from the Town Counsel relative to bonds on Public Carriage Licenses. Mr. Wrightington thought it unwise to allow relatives to sign as sureties without Bonds on some knowledge of their finances. He thought it was im- Public portant to have the Clerk get some information about assets Carriage and make the sureties sign a statement in order to protect Licenses the town and show that we had made some effort to determine the worth of the sureties. Mr. Potter moved that no action be taken on the matter. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman said that Harold B. Lamont had telephoned him and stated that he had heard of some firm that would go to a community and study its finances. Mr. Lamont said that Study of this firm had saved a great deal of money for several Town communities. He wanted to know if that was done and paid Finances for by private citizens, if the records of the Town would be made available. Mr. Wrightington said that there was a Statute that certain records could not be disclosed. There was some question as to how the Board could authorize such a thing and it was decided that the best thing to do would be to advise Mr. Lamont to get the necessary signatures to request an article in the Warrant to do this so that the Whole town could act on the matter. 304 wgZ Mr. Rowse asked Mr. Wrightington if there was any Rules re legal restriction on milkmen making deliveries in the early milk morning hours on the basis of a nuisance because of noise. deliveries. Mr. Wrightington said he understood that something had been done on this in Winchester and he said that he would consult with the Town Counsel in that town to find out how this had been accomplished. Letter was received from the Supt. of the Park Depart- ment recouuriending that the following appointments be made for playground work during the coming summer : Center Playground: 1 male instructor 9 weeks @ $25 . week $225.00 Robert Eichorn 1 female instructor 10 weeks @ $18. week 180.00 Betty Nourse 1 male instructor 10 weeks @ $16. week 160.00 Richard Wade 1 female instructor 10 weeks @ $16. week 160.00 Playground Betty Lewis appointments. 1 male pool attendant 10 weeks @ $10. week 100.00 George Schlichte, Jr. 1 female pool attendant 10 wks . @ $10. week 100.00 Evelyn Hooper East Lexington Playground: 1 male instructor 9 weeks @ $18. week 162.00 Francis Rocque 1 female instructor 9 weeks @ $18. week 162.00 Edna Smith North Lexington Playground: 1 male. instructor 8 weeks @ 418.00 week 144.00 George Morse, Jr. 41393.00 Mr. Sarano moved that the Superintendent' s recommenda- tions be approved. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mr. Lloyd J. Osborne of the Employers' Group to the effect that the commission on the Commission contract bond for Peter Salvucci on Contract B, Vine Brook ' on Vine Drainage, amounted to $629.12. He requested instructions Brook Bond. as to whom this commission was to be paid. Mr. Osborne said that Tracy W. Ames had been of great assistance to him in the handling of this bond. Letter was received from Tracy W. Ames outlining his activities in the handling of the bond and requesting that he be made the broker. Mr. Rowse moved that the commission be divided as follows : $80. each to the five following persons : C. H. Schofield W. S. Caouette Louis J. Reynolds 305 William H. Ballard Robert Whitney $292. 12 to Tracy W. Ames. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Rowse moved that Water Lien Abatement in the Abatement amount of $18.17 and commitment of sewer house connections and in the amount of $69.57 be signed. Mr. Locke seconded the commitment motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond appeared before the Board. He said that during the trial of the Cataldo case , there was a lot of running around to be done getting wit- nesses, etc. and the Asst. Town Engineer used the Engineer- ing Dept. car for that purpose. While the engineering car Engineer's was busy the Town Engineer had to use his personal car on use of car. Town business. In previous cases where a private car was used going back and forth to Court, an allowance of $.05 a mile was made. Mr. Raymond wondered if the Board would ap v p in s33� ilar charRe to Mr Cos rov . u mhe ,.ecpens. who t oe spoor 0.uu. r. L ake moved tha th s .b rove aud, charged, to the Law Department expenses appropriation; Mr. Saran seconded the motion, and it was so voed. Mr. Raymond reported that the contractor on Contract B, Vine Brook, had agreed orally with him that he would fur- nish water to the fanners and purchase it from the Town if he could get a reduced rate of 4.15 per hundred cubic feet and if the Town would act favorably on a request for an Vine Brook extension of, the 30 day time limit for completion of the Project. work on Mr. Burnham's land to 90 days. Mr. Raymond said that he talked with Mr. Burnham about this and the arrange- ment was satisfactory to him, provided that the contractor go right ahead and lay the pipe. Mr. Raymond -recommended that the agreement be made with the contractor and that n harg be made forthe conn ons of w ch there probably will be two. tie said that a mil4on cubic feet of water at amount-toaolbUU.OU atdttie°ower°rate .MMr. and would that the reduced rate be approved and that the request for the extension of time be granted. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that Mr. Wrightington had suggested that Neil McIntosh be employed as the real estate expert Ham case. in the Ham case. Mr. Rowse moved that Mr. McIntosh be approved in this capacity. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that Mr. Garrity had reported that Aldrich the Mystic Building Wrecking Co. had completed everything property required bythe contract and he suggested that their certified check for 100 . be returned. Mr. Rowse moved that the check be returned. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. 306 ch tv et Mr. Raymond reported that on May 22nd there was to be a meeting in Cary Hall for the purpose of organizing a Lexington Chamber of Commerce. A request had been received Use of Hall. for the use of the Hall for that purpose. Mr. Rowse moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that the Lafayette Club had re- quested the use of Estabrook Hall on June 6th for the purpose of holding a Mother' s night. Mr. Locke moved that the use of the hall be granted subject to a fee of 15.00. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that he had given some study to the machines on the market for painting traffic lines and there were not many of them. The most successful machines seem Traffic to be home-made. However, there is a machine on the market marker. called the A.B.C. Line Marker which is used by the Met- ropolitan District Commission which he thought would be all right . Mr. Rowse suggested that the Town continue to do the painting of the traffic lines by hand. Mr. Raymond said that the trouble was that the demands for lines were in- creasing all the time and they could not keep them painted up as they should be. Mr. Sarano moved that no action be taken on the matter. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond asked if the Board would approve starting the work on Westview Street. The Chairman suggested that they hold up on this until after talking with Mr. Wrighting- Westview ton about the trouble with Mr. Linehan. Mr. Raymond said Street. that that did not make any difference and that the town had to go in there before June 1st. Mr. Potter moved that the work be started subject to the approval of the Town Counsel. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that the Town was carrying a binder Aldrich on the Aldrich barn and he thought that there was no need property for it. Mr. Potter moved that the binder in the amount of 03,000. be cancelled. Mr.Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that bids had been received for Pipe for supplying the water Department with 200 feet of six inch Water Dept. and 600 feet of eight inch cast iron pipe. The Warren Pipe and Foundry Co. was the low bidder. Mr. Rowse moved that the bid of that company be accepted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Weston Mr. Raymond read a letter received from the Supt. of Street . the Highway Division relative to the improvement of Weston Street. It was decided to hold the matter overfor one week. 111 307 The Chairman said that Calvin W. Childs had talked with him relative to curbing around the curve and on the straight line of Watertown Street. They started loaming the Curbing- new filling station last week and the cars ran right over Watertown the graded areas and ruined it . He requested that curbing Street. be put in to safeguard the graded area. Mr. Giroux suggested that the Appropriation Committee be requested to approve a transfer from the Reserve Fund to pay for this work. Mr. Raymond said that the estimated cost of doing it, including patching the street, was $450.00, although he was very doubtful if the work could be done by Saturday when Mr. Childs wanted to open. Mr. Potter moved that the Appropriation Committee be requested to transfer $450.00 from the Reserve Fund for that purpose and that the Supt. of Public Works be author- ized to proceed immediately after the transfer is approved. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that Peter Salvucci was going to use Union labor on his job, which meant that local non- union men would not be eligible for work. Mr. Raymond was Vine Brool requested to get in touch with the labor man in Waltham job. and after receiving full information, proceed to put the information before the town by putting it in the paper, etc. so that men might be able to get work. At 9 :40 P.M. the Appropriation Committee appeared before the Board and the Chairman explained Mr. Child' s re- quest and asked the Committee to consider transferring $450.00 from the Reserve Fund. The two bodies held an informal discussion relative to the petition of Harold B. Lamont which was published in Approp- the paper and which it was reported had over 100 signatures riation of Town Meeting Members , demanding a y$30. tax rate for Committee 1940. Mr. Merriam said he understood the petition was not re going to be presented to the Selectmen and Appropriation finances. Committee and if this was -not done, it was the feeling of the Appropriation Committee that nothing should be done on the matter until fall at least . The group retired at 10;09 P.M. The Chairman consulted with the Appropriation Curbing - Committee and returned and informed the Board that that Watertown body had refused to transfer the $450. from the Reserve Street. Fund to put in the curbing for Mr. Childs. Mr. Rowse moved that an article be inserted in the warrant for the next Town Meeting to request money to do this work. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Messrs. Mitchell ant., Morse appeared before the Board to discuss welfare matters. Welfare The meeting adjourned at 11 :30 P. M. A true record, Attest: Clerk. 308 SETrCTMEN'S MEETING MAY 22nd, 1939. 1 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 4:00 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Locke and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. At 4:00 P.M. hearing was declared open on the appli- Pole cation of the Boston Edison Co. and the New England Tel. & location Tel. Co. for permission to maintain one guy wire and anchor k hearing from pole in Coolidge Avenue, approximately 30 feet north- west of Brigham Road. No persons appeared in favor of in opposition. Mr. Locke moved that the petition be granted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. At 4 :05 P.M. hearing was declared open on the petition rr of the Boston Edison Co. for permission to set one pole and remove one pole on Audubon Road, approximately 320 feet north of Lincoln Street. No persons appeared in favor or in opposition. Mr. Locke moved that the petition be granted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Application was received from the Lexington V.F.W. Carnival Inc. for permission to operate a carnival on the land on Permit the northeast corner of Lowell and 'Wobu'rn Streets during the week of July 4th, 1939 . Mr. Sarano moved that the permit be granted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Sanatorium Application for the admission of Rosanne Trebino of applications 7 Dunham Street to the Middlesex County Sanatorium, was received. Mr. Potter moved that the application be approved. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Application for the admission of David H. Cavanaugh of 60 Woburn Street tohs t Middlesex County Sanatorium was also received. Mr. Cavanaugh is to be admitted for obser- vation under the provisions of Chapter 392 of the Acts of 1937. Mr. Potter moved that the application be approved. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted: Letter was received from the Town Counsel in reply to Milk the Board's inquiry about Winchester' s experience in the Deliveries regulation of milk deliveries in the early morning hours. That Board invited the milkmen to meet them and had a con- ference and made arrangements which were satisfactory to everybody. Mr. Wrightington doubted our right to control this By-law. No action was taken on the matter. Letter was received from the Appropriation Committee advising that the School Committee had voluntarily agreed to make a fifty per cent reduction in the step-rate increases to all teachers receiving $1250. per year. Furthermore, 309 the School Committee will insert a clause in all contracts with teachers so as to provide that the rate of pay specified will be paid only in the event that the town appropriates the necessary funds. The School Committee agreed to this School plan in view of their policy of hiring teachers at a lower budget. salary rate than many other communities and they feel that greater damage would be done to the schools by a complete elimination of step-rate increases than would result in a percentage cut. It was decided to hold no meeting on Monday, May 29th, and to hold the next meeting of the Board at 7 :30 P.M. on Meeting. Monday, June 5th. The application of Louis Michelson of Waltham for a Junk Collector' s License was again considered. The Board Junk felt that there were sufficient licenses in town and there- License for voted to deny Michelson's request. denied. Mr. Raymond appeared before the Board. He reported that the Lexington High School would like to use Cary Hall Use of on June 15th for graduation exercises. Mr. Potter moved Hall that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that the Lexington Junior High School would like to use Cary Hall on June 22nd in the morning for graduation exercises Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. In the matter of requirements of the Union in connection with Contract B, Vine Brook, Mr. Raymond said he Union rate; received information that the initiation fee was $25.00. Vine Brook The Union will allow workmen to join upon payment of $5. per week and $3. per week until the $25. is paid up. The dues then are $1.50 per month. Mr. Salvucci thinks he can expedite matters by putting men on two or three days and finding out whether or not they can do the work before they join the Union . Mr. Raymond said he thought it was going to work out all right. Mr. Raymond submitted W.P.A. proposal #74 for work on the south branch of Vine Brook which was submitted to the authorities and they thought it was going through all W.P.A. right, but when it got to the last stage, the authorities Vine Brook would not approve it without changes. The changes affect Project. the cost materially in that they reduce the Federal allotment by about $9,000. and increase the town's allotment by $800. As the project is now written up, they expect it to be approved. The Federal share amounts to $25,500. and the Town' s share is $10,900. This project includes the drainage and a connection to a proposed ditch to provide for Wash- ington Street. Previously they were unable to secure a 310 release from Mr. Ashley on the project, but they expect that he will sign it this year. If they get the releases, the question is whether or not the Board will approve I submitting the project upon the present ratio. This project includes pipe to Winthrop Road and an open channel from there down to the Meek land and will take care of the drainage on the land of Appolonio and Franceschelli, etc. It will provide a drain at the Ashley land and will go up to Highland Ave extension and there will be a short piece of pipe in Highland Ave. Extension to Washington Street. The Chairman asked Mr. Raymond if he considered this project vital toward the completion of the Vine Brook project and Mr. Raymond replied in the affirmative. He said it meant that we would get very little relief for the area south of Winthrop Road unless this work was done. He said he believed we would have to ask for more Federal funds before this work was completed. The project is written up for thirty-six laborers for ten months and would not be finished this year of course. Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Locke, it was voted to approve submitting the project and that Mr. Raymond keep track of the W.P.A. appropriation so that it will not be exceeded this year. Mr. Raymond asked if the Board wished to do anything on Weston Street. It would cost approximately 0800.00 for a one coat oil job and Mr. Paxton said that the Hayes Ave. 111 job would have to be eliminated if Weston Street were done. When asked about it, Mr. Raymond said that Hayes Ave. was not dangerous and could be done next year all right. Paxton had allowed 01,000. for Hayes Ave . and he thought that the Weston St. drain at the corner of Shade Street would cost about 0200. Mr. Raymond said that this transfer of work meant less money available for labor out of the appropriation as he thought there was more material and machinery needed for Weston Street than for Hayes Avenue. Mr. Potter moved that the one coat oil treatment be applied for Weston Street and that the drainage work at the corner of Weston and Shade Streets be done, the total cost to be charged to Highway Maintenance. 1 Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that he had received two prices for Cleaner for the suction cleaner for the swimming pool, one from the swimming Everson Co. of 0145.00 and one from the Lambert-Sawyer Co. pool. of 0188.25. The Everson Co. is represented by a local man. 0150. was included in the appropriation for this equipment. Mr. Garrity recommended that the Everson cleaner be purchased. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Garrity' s recommendation be approved. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was •so voted. Mr. Raymond said that they had taken bids on asphalt Asphalt and they were practically identical. About twelve bids II bids. were received. He would like authority, as in the last number of years, to do business with those people he knew 311 were reputable and give good service. Mr. Potter moved that ' the matter be left in the hands of Mr. Raymond and Mr. Paxton. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from John S. Valentine requesting that the Board place with him insurance policies expiring Insurance during the coming summer. No action was taken on the matter. Mr. Beach submitted a report giving his mileage for the past month and showing it to be 825 miles. Mr. Potter Beach moved that the $10. per week allowance be continued for car one month and that Mr. Beach continue to submit his mileage allowance record. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman said that the Lexington Field and Garden Club did not have money to maintain the Frederick Emery L. Emery Park and the Club requested that the Town take Park care of; the grass. Mr. Potter moved that the Park Depart- ment be instructed to take care of the lawn at the Park but to do no work on the shrubbery. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Sidewalk Betterment Assessment amounting to $486.75 Betterment was certified by the Board. Assessment Messrs. Mitchell and Morse appeared before the Board relative to Welfare matters. Welfare The meeting adjourned at 5:30 P.M. At 7 :30 P. M. the members who were present in the afternoon and Mr. Rowse met in the Selectmen's Root. Hearing was declared open on the application of Mary D. Hatch for the approval of the Board of Survey of the Hatch Clematis Pond Development as shown on a plan entitled: Board of "Clematis Pond Development , A Subdivision in Lexington, Survey Mass . belonging to Mary D. Hatch, Scale 1 in. - 40 ft. , Hearing. Rowland H. Barnes & Henry F. Beal , C.E' s. , Waltham & Newton, May, 1939". Mrs. Hatch appeared before the Board in favor of granting the petition and no persons appeared in opposition. The plan was tentatively approved by the Town Engineer subject to possible minor changes and necessary easements for sewer and storm drainage. The Chairman stated that the plan would be sent to the Chairman of the Planning Board at the close of this meeting for his approval. It was deciddd to take no action on the matter at the present time. The Clerk was instructed to find out if the plan met with the approval of the Planning Board and if so, to in- struct Mrs. Hatch to have the final Board of Survey plan made up. Mrs . Hatch retired. The Board discussed a few welfare matters. Welfare The meeting adjourned at 8:15 P.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk. I��